A rowing coach who taught at Eton was jailed by a judge at Coventry Crown Court for 15 months yesterday for the sexual abuse of a girl 30 years ago.

David Rachel, 45, who coached the rowing team at the elite public school, groped his nine-year-old victim when he was a teenager.

Rachel, who also coached the junior British rowing team, forced the girl to perform other sexual acts. Rachel was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault in the early 1980s when he was a teenager living in Solihull.

He was cleared of one count of indecent assault and two charges of rape against the girl.

Rachel broke down in tears as he was sentenced to 15 months in prison on each charge to run concurrently.